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Reviewer: Arvid G. Larson

The effective design of a site on the World Wide Web is a rapidly evolving discipline involving visual design, software development, and information management specialists. In a relatively short time, Web site development has progressed well beyond the simple selection of a usable interface, design of an appropriate image, and production of correct Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) code. The premise of this text is that increasingly complex Web site development must involve an orderly process of system design, planning, and testing, which requires rigorous application of well-established software engineering principles and organization. To this end, the text attempts to systematically address the management, technical, and operational issues that arise when Web sites move from simplistic, static text formats to sophisticated application deployment platforms. The text generally achieves this purpose by providing a well-written and easy-to-read guide to the rapidly evolving principles of effective Web design. The overall presentation is in the form of a guidebook and not a handbook, and stresses developmental concepts rather than detailed implementation processes. The text is organized into ten chapters, which deal with the engineering design, implementation, and testing aspects of Web site development. Numerous examples and illustrations in each chapter reinforce many of the concepts. Each chapter also includes a reference list providing historical perspective and sources of further information. In addition to basic Web site engineering practice, a number of peripheral topics, including software engineering principles relevant to site development and post-development site promotion and maintenance, are covered. The introductory chapter provides a short history of Web site design. The concluding chapter provides useful commentary on the uncertainties encountered in Web site operation and how to mitigate the many outside factors that may sabotage the best-engineered site. This text presents a fairly current description of Web site development concepts and the underlying technology of Web browsers, specialized application programs, and database maintenance systems of ever-increasing size and complexity. These site planning and implementation concepts are approached as elements of a software-centered Web publishing discipline. In addition, many application nuggets scattered throughout the text provide the practical insight necessary to create well-engineered Web sites that are appealing and useful while achieving reliability, scalability, and value. The presentation provides a thoughtful mix of graphic design issues, such as artistic style, color theory, and typography, with technical functionality issues such as interactivity, usability, response time, and security. This text is recommended to both artistically oriented and technically oriented Web site development specialists as well as to students of this emerging applications field. The overall presentation would also have some value as a supplemental text in various courses related to Web site development.